AIDS. 1994 Jan;8(1):93-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/94280710
OBJECTIVE: To study risk factors for HIV infection among women in
Nairobi, Kenya, as the epidemic moves beyond high-risk groups. DESIGN: A
cross-sectional case-control study among women attending two peri-urban
family planning clinics. METHODS: A total of 4404 women were enrolled
after giving written informed consent. Information on risk factors was
obtained by interview using a structured questionnaire. Blood was taken
for HIV and syphilis testing, and genital specimens for gonorrhea and
trichomoniasis screening. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixteen women (4.9%;
95% confidence interval, 4.3-5.5) were HIV-1-positive. Although risk of
HIV was significantly increased among unmarried women and among women
with multiple sex partners, most seropositive women were married and
reported only a single sex partner in the last year. Women with a
history or current evidence of sexually transmitted disease were at
significantly increased risk; however, the prevalence of these exposures
was low. Women whose husband or usual sex partner was uncircumcised had
a threefold increase in risk of HIV, and this risk was present in almost
all strata of potential confounding factors. Only 5.2% of women reported
ever having used a condom. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that, among
women who are not in high-risk groups, risk of HIV infection is largely
determined by their male partner's behavior and circumcision status.
Interventions designed to change male sexual behavior are urgently
needed.
Adolescence Adult *Circumcision Cross-Sectional Studies Female
Human HIV Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY Kenya/EPIDEMIOLOGY Male
Middle Age Risk Factors *Sex Behavior Sexually Transmitted
Diseases/*EPIDEMIOLOGY Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Support, U.S. Gov't,
P.H.S. JOURNAL ARTICLE